Metal gun barrel with encircling plastic layer and integral plastic sight



Jan. 24, 1967 R. KA 3,299,558

METAL GUN BAR WITH E 'RCLlNG PLASTIC LAYER AND INTEGRAL PLASTIC SIGHT Filed Aug. 27, 1965 INVENTOR J/VfAU/VJAOBEET HAZEL BY W J (MW ATTC R N EYS United States Patent C) 3,299,558 METAL GUN BARREL WITH ENCIRCLING PLAS- TIC LAYER AND INTEGRAL PLASTIC SIGHT Anthony Robert Karl, 4 Walnut St., Rye, N.Y. 10580 Filed Aug. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 483,083 6 Claims. (Cl. 42-76) This invention relates to gun barrels and structures and to related methods.

Although gun barrels and structures have been manufactured for very many years, the techniques involved in such manufacture are still subject to many deficiencies. Moreover, the commercially available products are still subject to inherent deficiencies.

For example, in the manufacture of gun barrels it is essential to effect a smoothing, polishing and/ or bluing operation to give the gun barrel its desired finish. This results in increased production costs, while at the same time the resulting product is still subject to tarnishing and does not have a permanent finish whether originally glossy or dull.

In addition, known gun barrels are not dent, scuff, or scratch-resistant and are not noise-proof; i.e., they do not have a relatively low noise level when striking against brush, rocks, wire fences, and so forth, as is important both in sports and military uses.

In addition to the aforesaid, most gun barrels are not insulated against electricity and thus constitute a hazard in respect of electrical fences and power lines.

Still further, it is not usually considered possible to impart permanent colors of varying hues and shades to most known gun barrels in a manner which would be of greater appeal to women.

There are some known gun barrel constructions which employ a fiberglass mesh bonded by a plastic to a gun barrel, in which event some of the deficiencies noted above are avoided. These proposals, however, are actually an approach to a different problem, notatably that of providing suitable gun barrel strength with a reduced thickness of the gun barrel material. Stated otherwise, these known proposals suggest that a gun barrel of conventional material can be reduced in thickness to a point below that which would normally be required to withstand the discharge of a cartridge and that such reduced thickness can be compensated for by restraining the barrel wall within an encircling mesh of glass fiber or the like. Such proposals are to be distinguished from the instant invention which contemplates the improvement of a gun barrel of conventional thickness but in accordance with which an outer covering of plastic is employed.

It is one object of the invention to provide an improved gun barrel construction which is dent, scuff and scratch-resistant.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved gun barrel which is noise-proofed or, in other words, has a very low noise level when striking against brush, rocks, and so forth.

Yet .another object of the invention is to provide an improved gun barrel construction and manufacturing technique in accordance with which pastel shades or bright colors other than black can be provided.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved gun barrel, the color of which is permanent, so that the disadvantage of the wearing-off of bluing can be avoided.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improved gun barrel which is electrically insulated and thus does not constitute -a hazard in respect of high voltage elements.

Other objects of the invention include improvements whereby a substantially maintenance-free gun barrel is provided which is tarnish-proof and may be provided with a permanent glossy or dull finish.

Advantageously, techniques of the invention avoid the need for finishing operations such as smoothing, polishing and bluing so that reduced production costs are obtained.

In accordance with the broad concept of the invention, the aforegoing advantages are obtained by covering a gun barrel with a layer of plastic in connection with which the gun barrel is free-formed to withstand the discharge of a cartridge independently of the layer of plastic.

As a very interesting feature of the invention, it is possible to mold the layer of plastic on the gun barrel which need not be given a finished surface prior to this operation, and it is further possible to mold or cast, or otherwise form integrally with the covering layer of plastic, a gun sight such as, for example, a front or peep-sight or the like.

As a further feature of the invention, it is possible to mold or otherwise form integrally with the covering layer of plastic, a support for a telescopic sight or the like.

Still further, it is possible within the scope of the invention to mold a gun stock integrally with the covering layer of plastic so that a monolithic structure is obtained comprising both a gun stock and a tubular covering of plastic surrounding the metallic gun barrel.

As will be discussed in further detail hereinafter, there are various techniques by means of which the aforesaid telescopic sight can be embodied in the structure of the invention and there is contemplated the provision of cooperating protrusions and receptacles on the covering layer and barrel to prevent relative rotation or other such movement therebetween.

Some preferred embodiments of the invention will next be explained relative to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a rifle incorporating various features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an axial section of a gun barrel and forward end of a stock constituting a slight modification of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to that which would appear along line 55 of FIG. 2 which, however, embodies a slight variation from the structure illustrated in FIG. 2; and

FIGURE 6 is a view, partially broken away, corresponding to that of FIG. 5 and showing a further variation of the invention.

Referring with greater particularity to FIG. 1, there is illustrated in this figure a rifle 10 comprising a stock 12 and a gun barrel 14. v

The stock 12 includes a butt 16 having a forward end 18 and supporting a trigger guard 26 within which is accommodated a trigger 22.

The gun barrel 14 includes an elongated tube 24 having a front sight 26 mounted thereon and including a telescopic sight support 28 supporting a telescopic sight 30 of conventional construction.

In this embodiment of the invention the tubular portion 24 consists of a metal tube of appropriate bore and of a thickness adapted for withstanding the discharge of a cartridge as though no further provisions in accordance with this invention were to be employed. The metal tube (hidden from sight in FIG. 1) is; however, covered with a layer of plastic in accordance with the invention and this layer of plastic provides many of the advantages stated hereinabove.

For example, the layer of plastic renders the metal gun barrel dent, scuff and scratch-resistant. the layer of plastic noise-proofs the gun barrel so that it has a relatively low noise level when striking such objects as brush, rocks, and so forth. Moreover, it is possible to provide the gun barrel, with the use of such plastic covering, with colors of any desired types, such as pastels and bright colors which may be more appealing to women. Additionally, the gun barrel is electrically insulated by the plastic covering and hence does not constitute a hazard when brought into contact, for example, with electrically charged wire fences and the like.

In addition to the above, the plastic covering tarnishproofs the gun barrel which becomes resistant to inclement weather conditions, as well as to moisture in all forms and from all sources. The plastic covering, moreover, enables the metallic gun barrel to be manufactured with a relatively rough finish for the terminal finish of the gun barrel is provided by the outer surface of the plastic layer which will be relatively smooth.

In addition to the aforesaid, it is possible to provide the plastic covering by molding, or by a like procedure, during which the front sight 26 can be integrally molded or cast as a part of the plastic covering. Similarly, the telescopic sight support 28 can be integrally molded or cast as a part of the plastic coating and may alternatively constitute a rear sight. Similarly, the coating can provide a solid or ventilated sighting rib extending at least partly along the barrel.

Such operations provide such a substantial savings in cost that it is surprising that such techniques have not been heretofore conceived. However, still further possibilities are enabled in accordance with the invention.

Thus, for example, it is possible to mold the gun stock itself as an integral part of the plastic coating as indicated in the form of element 32 appearing in FIG. 2. Thus it appears that in following the techniques contemplated by the invention not only can the various facts specified above be achieved, but further it is possible to reduce the manufacture of the entire gun structure to relatively simple operations.

In the embodiments appearing in FIGS. 1 and 2, there are seen cooperating ribs and grooves diagrammatically indicated at 34 and 36. These cooperating projections and receptacles afford a protection against relative displacement between the metal tube, e.g., see element 38 in FIG. 2, and the plastic coating, e.g., see element 40 in FIG. 2.

The cooperative structure of the front sight and the plastic coating or layer appears more clearly in FIG. 3, wherein is seen the aforesaid metal tube 38 and the plastic layer 40. Herein it will be appreciated how the front sight 26 constitutes an integral part of the layer 40 having been formed on the metal tube 38 at the same time as said layer 40. It will of course be appreciated that various forms of such front sights or equivalent structures may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the technique of preventing rotation between the interior metal tube 38 and the layer 40, there being seen in this figure the ribs 42 and the cooperating grooves 44 which may, for example, be equidistantly spaced around the circumference of the elements 38 and 40.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the telescopic sight 30 is embedded in entirety within the support 28 which is molded, or otherwise formed, above said sight. The same structure appears in FIG. 2. FIGURE 5, however, shows a variation of the above technique and structure in that a sight support 46 accommodated in a stock 48 which supports a metallic gun barrel 50 having thereon a plastic layer 52 is provided with a bifurcated extremity 54 having legs 56 and 58 embracing the tubular portion 60 of the telescopic sight. Legs 56 and 53, fabricated of plastic as is the support 46 Moreover,

of which the legs consitute a part, have a natural resil- .iency since they are formed of a suitable plastic. These legs are toed-in at their upper extremities and define a receptacle within which the telescopic sight 60 is accommodated. The telescopic sight 60 can thus be snapped into position and a very simple, reliable and rugged structure is obtained which possesses all of the advantages hereinbefore stated.

FIG. 6 illustrates yet a further variation, in accordance with which there is provided a plastic support 62 molded integrally with a plastic coating (not shown) on a metal tube constituting a gun barrel. In this embodiment of the invention the top of the support is in the form of a groove 64 of arcuate cross-section within which is accommodated the telescopic sight 66, a metal clamp 68 sandwiching the sight 66 in groove 64 and being connected to support 62 by fastening devices 70 and 72 which may be screws or other such fastening means.

Many plastics can be employed in accordance with the invention, these being preferably of a type which is adapted to maintain its strength within a temperature range of from about 70 to +300 F. Preferably, the plastic layer of the invention has a thickness lying within a range of from about 0.20 to .250".

Many plastics are available which enable the provision of various colors and which have a sutficiently high strength so as to render the barrel dent, scuff and scratchresistant, while at the same time having sufficient resiliency to scuff-proof the metal tube to which it is applied.

At the same time, all such plastics will have an electrical resistance such as to electrically insulate the ma terial to which is applied and further such plastics will be able to provide a permanent tarnish-proof finish of either glossy or dull type.

Within the scope of the invention, it will of course be possible, and even preferable, to only roughly finish the metal barrel, completing the finish with the plastic layer to avoid the need for finishing operations such as smoothing, polishing, or bluing.

Among the plastics suitable for the above uses and advantages are nylon, Teflon, neoprene, polyvinyl, polyethylene, polyurethane and acetal resin. Nylon is considered particularly suitable and especially such types of nylon as are resistant to moisture absorption and which are particularly adapted for resistance to outdoor Weathering. By way of non-limitative example, Zytel 37 and are particularly recommended for use in accordance with the invention, although some sacrifice in degree of toughness is made as a compromise to achieving good outdoor weathering characteristics.

In addition to the aforesaid, the use of commercially available irradiated plastics is particularly suitable in accordance with the invention inasmuch as plastic coatings formed of irradiated plastics have increased tolerance to heat generated by repeated discharges of fire arms.

The mechanical grasping of the plastic coating or layer contemplated by the invention can be facilitated by providing indentations or knurling, or the like, on said layer.

There will now be obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications and variations of the above structures and techniques. These modifications and variations will not depart from the scope of the invention, however, if defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a tubular metal gun barrel having a thickness adapted to withstand the discharge of a cartridge, a layer of plastic encircling said barrel, and a plastic sight integral with said layer.

2. An article of manufacture comprising a tubular metal gun barrel having a thickness adapted to withstand the discharge of a cartridge, a layer of plastic encircling said barrel, and a plastic stock integral with said layer and supporting said barrel.

3. An article of manufacture comprising a tubular metal gun barrel having a thickness adapted to withstand the discharge of a cartridge, 3. layer of plastic encircling said barrel, a telescopic sight, and a plastic sight support integral with said layer and supporting said sight.

4. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 3 wherein said support is bifurcated and the sight is resiliently retained therein.

5. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 3 wherein said sight is embedded in the support.

6. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 3 comprising a fastener locking said sight in said support.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Hogg 4276 Day 4276 Hartley et a1. -2 4276 Hammer 4276 Heiman 4276 Snyder et a1 4276 Manshel 4276 Friedrichsmeier 42-1 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING A TUBULAR METAL GUN BARREL HAVING A THICKNESS ADAPTED TO WITHSTAND THE DISCHARGE OF A CARTRIDGE, A LAYER OF PLASTIC ENCIRCLING SAID BARREL, AND A PLASTIC SIGHT INTEGRAL WITH SAID LAYER. 